More than $15 million has been granted to Mississippi institutions to enhance allied health nursing programs across the state.
Grants have been awarded to 17 community colleges, institutions of higher learning, health networks, and emergency services companies to sustain and increase the capacity of nursing, allied health, and paramedic training programs.
The funding was made available through the Mississippi Nursing Allied Health Grant Program as part of a larger $28 million investment of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to alleviate the strain on healthcare services due to a continued lack of workforce.
“This funding will create new capacity in critical allied health programs to train Mississippi’s healthcare workforce,” Deputy Director of Strategy and Programs at AccelerateMS Courtney Taylor said. “These grants will pave the way for new entrants into the healthcare field that will provide a critical workforce for our future.”
According to Dr. Brandy Larmon, dean of nursing at the Mississippi University for Women, they will use their grant to hire a coordinator to assist with retention and health and wellness strategies for the school’s nursing programs.
“Retention success has always been a passion of mine, and I am thrilled to see how we can impact undergraduate nursing as well as build resiliency in our nursing workforce,” Larmon said.
The complete list of grantees is listed below:
| Nursing/Allied Health Entities | Program | Amount Awarded |
| Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences | Diagnostic Medical Sonography | $1,002,000.00 |
| Blue Mountain Christian University | Nursing | $850,000.00 |
| Coahoma Community College | Nursing | $672,158.56 |
| East Central Community College | Associate Degree Nursing | $1,313,876.00 |
| East Mississippi Community College | Nursing and Health Science | $1,997,750.00 |
| Itawamba Community College | Nursing Apprenticeship | $1,300,000.00 |
| Jones College | Allied Health and Nursing | $1,800,000.00 |
| Meridian Community College | Allied Health and Nursing | $544,500.00 |
| Mississippi Delta Community College | Practical Nursing | $91,897.71 |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College | Allied Health and Nursing | $1,330,000.00 |
| Mississippi State University | Allied Health and Nursing | $1,055,000.00 |
| Mississippi University for Women | Undergraduate Nursing | $303,755.00 |
| Northwest Mississippi Community College | Allied Health and Nursing | $218,680.00 |
| Pafford Emergency Medical Services, Inc. | Paramedic/EMT | $504,780.00 |
| Pearl River Community College | Paramedic | $940,634.00 |
| Singing River Health System | Licensed Practical Nursing Apprenticeship | $1,050,440.00 |
| University of Mississippi Medical Center | B.S. in Nursing | $750,000.00 |
| TOTAL | $15,725,471,27 |
